looking to buy/ have questions

[mr.mark]

Hello, my company is looking into buying a used man roland 300 after research. My questions are more geared to operation and how user friendly it is. We have 2 other 4 colors so that end isn't new or anything. I'm looking to find more up time so the questions i have are as such,are parts easy to find and replace in the states? How about techs to work on this equipment? Lately techs have been harder to find.The last question would be over all ease of operation from an pressman standpoint. Im looking for honest input on this machine not you should buy this brand or that one instead. Thanks

 

[Meny]

my opinion is that for the same price you will get a Komori with a better output/money rate and it will be much better & easy to run.
a Roland printer will always recomend on Roland , same with any other make i think...

 

[aqazi81]

Hello, my company is looking into buying a used man roland 300 after research. My questions are more geared to operation and how user friendly it is. We have 2 other 4 colors so that end isn't new or anything. I'm looking to find more up time so the questions i have are as such,are parts easy to find and replace in the states? How about techs to work on this equipment? Lately techs have been harder to find.The last question would be over all ease of operation from an pressman standpoint. Im looking for honest input on this machine not you should buy this brand or that one instead. Thanks

Read this article in Printweek.
http://www.printweek.com/print-week/tried-tested/1111940/roland-r300

 

[mr.mark]

That article was good thank you aqazi81.

 

[Yeslek]

I worked on a 700 Rolland in 2004. We ran this machine 20 hrs a day 5-6 days a week. With stocks ranging from 60# enamel to 24pt board. This machine was built like a tank. The only issue we ever had were the occasional cam follower going bad. With that being said make sure you have someone look the machine over thoroughly.

 

[mr.mark]

Thank you yeslek , this is exactly what I'm looking for. I have someone looking into the machine next week. It comes from someone we have done business with in the past so I trust them more than just a random sales person. I think the machine will be a good fit so I wanted to know what to watch for. Like cam followers or anything else. Thanks again

 

[aqazi81]

Check this attachment, View attachment Machine Inspection Report.pdf this is for Heidelberg but you can get an idea about what to check in a press when buying used.

 

[mr.mark]

That's a good resource to have. I know the tech I have looking into this equipment has a check list . It isn't that involved so I might forward this onto him. Thanks again

 

[rolandman]

the 300 is nothing like the 700 make sure you get a very good deal as they are impossible to sell and you should be naming your price. they are good machines when they are running but when they break down they are a nightmare, the plate loading as far as im concerned is over engineered, and is the worst thing about the machine. having said all this it is for the money a good machine but make sure you have an engineer who knows the machine inside out, not because they break down often but when they do breakdown although it may be a small issue it is most likely a complicated one.

 

[mr.mark]

Rolandman so many times things are over engineered as we all know. Thanks for the advice. Those small problem seem to always be the worst on almost every machine I've worked on. The price of the machine is basically rigging and install . We need to pour a heavier floor as well. The only room in the shop we have only has a 6 inch reinforced floor . So that is another down side of this move. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Yeslek]

I know most will argue this case but the floors in my shop are not 6 inches thick. We used thick sheets of steel to disperse the weight. Is it the right way per say? No but it was the cheapest route ,and we have made sure the machine is still level. If cost of enforcing the floor is too much this may be an option.

 

[mr.mark]

That could be another route to take. I'll have to look into it. What gauge steel are you using ? Is there other problems that have arisen from doing this? What about rolling skids across it ,does it catch them or is it a smooth transition?

 

[junker1984]

Only under the press Mark. I've seen it done a number of times over the years, and have done it myself. Different means to accomplish this, but don't think any less than 1" thick plate would be worthwhile. Some applications have been total length of machine on both sides, other times have just been pieces the length of each printing unit.

 

[mr.mark]

This is something i will look into further. Thanks for the advice. I'm sure its much cheaper than pouring a new pad.

 

[Yeslek]

We used pieces the length of the press. One inch thick should be sufficient.